Jose Altuve: All Star at 22, but is he the next Biggio?

Share this:

Keep in mind that Jose Altuve has played in only 129 major league baseball games. Less than a full season. In fact, add in 35 games at AA Corpus Christi and the diminutive second baseman has played only 164 games above Class A.

Hardly a lot of data on which to build a projection. Barely enough time to make a long-term appraisal.

But make no mistake: In an organization bereft of faces around which to build posters and slogans, Altuve is already the favorite Astro for many fans seeking to identify with the Jeff Luhnow rebuilding program.

If he has anywhere near the impact on the All-Star game next week — even with his passion for the game, small stature or contagious smile — he could quickly begin to endear himself to fans nationwide.

At 22, he’s an All Star for the first time. At 22, Craig Biggio was a major leaguer for the first time.

And, thus, the conversation begins.

Yes, it’s early to draw any conclusions that Altuve will compare statistically to a future Hall of Famer like Biggio, but there is little doubt he’s captured the hearts of fans and onlookers.

He was one of the Corpus Three — along with J.D. Martinez and Jimmy Paredes — who joined the Astros mid-season 2011, leaping over AAA Oklahoma City and hitting the ground running in Houston. At this point, only he remains as an impact player, though Martinez seems to be turning things around over the past dozen games or so.

Think about this: If the Astros had been at another point in their history, he could still be “developing” at AAA Oklahoma City this season. But his energy and ability to hit for average and excite fans pushed him through the system, playing only 382 games for six different minor league teams while speeding through rookie ball, Greeneville, TriCity, Lexington, Lancaster and Corpus Christi.

Last week while on business in Lexington, a hotel employee noticed my Astros’ shirt and wanted to make sure I knew that the “kid” had come through his Kentucky town. He made an impact there — and a lot of friends and fans — in just 94 games, hitting .308 with 11 HRs and 45 RBI in only part of a season.

He’ll make a few more fans and friends during the All Star break. Clearly, he seems poised to play second base for the Astros for the next decade.

Today’s question: Anyone willing to go out on a limb and suggest that Altuve will be the next Biggio?